Premium
Individually Addressable Thermo‐ and Redox‐Responsive Block Copolymers by Combining Anionic Polymerization and RAFT Protocols
Author(s) -
Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J.,
Elbert Johannes,
BarnerKowollik Christopher,
Gallei Markus
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300870
Subject(s) - copolymer , raft , polymerization , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , amphiphile , polymer chemistry , micelle , materials science , chain transfer , size exclusion chromatography , cationic polymerization , dynamic light scattering , aqueous solution , radical polymerization , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , enzyme , composite material
A novel diblock copolymer consisting of poly(vinylferrocene) (PVFc) and poly( N , N ‐diethylacrylamide) (PDEA) is synthesized via a combination of anionic and RAFT polymerization. The use of a novel route to hydroxyl‐end‐functionalized metallopolymers in anionic polymerization and subsequent esterification with a RAFT agent leads to a PVFc macro‐CTA (M ¯ n= 3800 g mol −1 ; Đ = 1.17). RAFT polymerization with DEA affords block copolymers as evidenced by 1 H NMR spectroscopy as well as size exclusion chromatography (6400 ≤M ¯ n ≤ 33700 g mol −1 ; 1.31 ≤ Đ 1.28). Self‐assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous solution leads to micelles as shown via TEM. Importantly, the distinct thermo‐responsive and redox‐responsive character of the blocks is probed via dynamic light scattering and found to be individually and repeatedly addressable.